CRAIG DUNAIN AGAIN

For the June walk, we reprised a previous trek from February 2015 - walk 124, in fact. That walk was organised by Jimmy and Jacque and they were accompanied by Hugh and Pam, Maureen and Bob and Sharon. 

On this occasion we were organised by Mac and Janet and the cast was the same (except for Mac and Janet, of course) and also with the notable exception of Jimmy. He was there, having given most of us a lift, but he didn't take part due to an unidentified injury to his knee.

He seems not to know where it hurts in the photo below.

We didn't walk this way the last time, because this road and the underpass did not exist.

This eventually took us to the canal, where this helpful sign explained a bit about the lumps in the landscape caused by glaciation some 20000 years ago, before even Dave was born. Rivers flowed through the glaciers and they carried vast amounts of sand and and gravel. This would later form the basis of a mighty empire headed by Pat Munro. Before it could do that, however, they had to be left as mounds, known as Eskers, as the glacier melted.

Tomnahurich Hill on the other side of the canal, is a fine example of just such a thing. I expect Pat Munro would struggle to get consent to dig the sand and gravel out of this esker.

Here we are walking alongside the canal.

If you look closely at the left of the photo, you might just spot what looks like a kangaroo. It is a roe deer that was a bit too fast for me to get a decent photo.

Mile End was just ahead of us and it has a wee bit of history. There was a Mile End farm on land belonging to the then Lord Burton. Just close by there was a brickworks erected in 1878 and they seem to have remained in operation until at least 1905. There is a pond on Torvean golf course where I have lost a few balls. This was actually the site of one of the clay pits, dug to supply the brickworks.

There is no sign remaining of the brickworks, but Craig Dunain, the Hill or Fort of the birds , is still there and we were going onwards and upwards towards it.

Our route took us towards the Headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage. The brown land on the top left of the path is the earthworks for the new Torvean golf course.

Onwards and upwards in the summer usually means it is soon time to take off the outer layers. It was certainly getting a bit muggy by now.

The views were getting better as we gained some height.

There were some fine views over the disused Craig Dunain hospital.

Inverness District Asylum, also known as the Northern Counties Asylum opened in 1864 and provided services to patients up until 2000. The building was designed by James Matthews of Aberdeen and Inverness. He was also the architect of the Royal Northern Infirmary. He had some experience in designing poorhouses.

There is a remarkable history of the building at the Historic Hospitals website. A couple of snippets caught my attention. Craig Dunain made gas for lighting on site. It had a piggery and slaughterhouse. It sounds almost as if it could stand alone and be self-sufficient.

It seems almost a shame to see the blank windows in the main building now, although it is still to be converted to residential use.

As we got further from Craig Dunain, the views over the city opened up.

The buzzard probably had an even better view.

It was a little too early for lunch, but as someone had kindly provided a nice bench around a tree, it would have been churlish not to take advantage.

Clearly a shady spot.

With some art to sit on as well.

The last time we were here, the loch was frozen over.

No matter where you go in this modern world, you always get the feeling that someone is watching you.

We saw this lock the last time we were here, but there were more padlocks on it then. We had no idea how it actually worked.

However, you can find out anything on t'internet if you are prepared to spend hours looking. So I did.

Essentially you remove the padlock to which you have the key. Slide the others to the right and the gate will then be unlocked. This allows lots of people to have different keys and still gain entry. Simple really.

Janet trudges off, disappointed at not having figured out the lock system.

Everybody else soon joins her.

As we neared the A82, we came across this very specific sign entreating people not to feed the horses at all!!

What can I say? SSPCA have been sent this photo anonymously.

Here is the horse about to throw up.

Everybody ran across the very busy A82, leaving poor country bumpkins Hugh and Bob standing about like lemons.

From the modern(ish) road down to the older canal and heading back to the car park.

A novel view of the new bridge across the Ness.

Nessie seems aghast at something. Was it someone feeding the horses or the new bridge or just the numbers of people walking by?

Luckily for those of us needing a lift, Jimmy appeared as if by magic.

He guided us back to the car park, from whence we repaired to the Floral Hall or Botanic Gardens, depending on your frame of mind. There we had a very welcome cup of tea and a very nice fruit slice. Other beverages and cakes were available.

Many thanks to Mac and Janet for arranging the walk and to Jimmy for his driving.